Author's note: I know a year has passed since the last update and I'm truly very sorry. But I'm still having trouble with that Makai Tournament. From the look of it, I won't be able to get it until I write that tournament to the finish and properly fill, alter, and divide things then using that frame. However, I just can't keep you waiting any longer, so I decided to change the way I do things. As I continue to write (struggle with) that Makai Tournament, I'll update occasionally up until the start of said tournament. Then I'll make sure to have it properly in order and post it as a batch release. Again, I'm terribly sorry for my lateness, and thank you for your saintly patience. Here is the chapter.


File 54: Rest-less

"Yusuke, think hard before you decide. In the Ningenkai, the Special Defense Squad is working franctically to close up the tunnel. I'm almost positive they'll finish it up in two days. And if they seal that hole, we can never go back. You have two choices: return to the Human World, or stay here. I'll give you 40 hours to decide." Koenma warned.

"If we have 40 hours, it's more than enough. Yusuke, fight me." Akari intervened, stepping forth and shocking everyone. She STILL hadn't fought enough?! "I'd prefer staying here anyway and I don't care about you guys' circumstances. I want to feel for myself exactly how strong you've become. And 'interfering with a sincere fight'... that can be said about you too. Wasn't it you who just took over after leaving things to us? You can't refuse, right? Now let's fight." The girl, once more overflowing with fighting spirit, intent on the S-class power in front of her, entered a battle stance. And from her eyes, it didn't seem like she would allow 'no' for an answer.

"Sorry but I can't let that happen. You might not be aware of it but you're overexerting yourself. Besides, I'd like to return to the Human World, and you're staying with me." Kurama (the only one with enough courage to actually go against her) suddenly immobilized her and covered her mouth. Since there never was the slightest reaction from him, be it fear, wariness, hostility... that people instinctively had when exposed to her aggressiveness, not even the faintest trace... he wasn't registered as 'something to watch out for', and was thus overlooked. She struggled, trying to protest against how tyrannical he was being, not letting her do as she liked... although she was the tyrannical one for not caring about others and forcing her will onto them. Yusuke gazed at them, and especially at Akari, with a soft smile.

"That's a no brainer. Sorry, Akari. We're going back... to the Human World." The detective made his choice. The girl stopped squirming and looked down and away from him with a disappointed expression. As she had calmed down, the fox let her go. The others smiled happily. So they were returning. So they would have school again. But they had people waiting for them. She understood that. She agreed... but...

"That doesn't change anything. We can still fight before going back." Katsuyama objected. Her friends couldn't believe it... that belligerence... she was such a single-minded blockhead they couldn't keep up with her.

"Akari..." Kurama said.

"What? You can't-" But she couldn't finish as the fox grabbed her face with both hands, turned her towards him and silenced her with a kiss. She froze for a moment. It was one of those despicably unfair mind-blowing, spellbinding kisses that melted your defenses, overwhelmed you, captured your heart in an instant and turned your body into a weak soulless shell. Despite his fair appearance he truly was a master of foul play. However, since she tended to prove surprisingly resistant to his charms, skills, and love when she was THAT intent on something, his tongue wasn't the only thing he slipped into her mouth. Suddenly she sagged as her knees buckled. "You... bastard..." She weakly but angrily insulted him when he caught her in his arms. And after a few seconds of futile resistance, she was fast asleep and Kurama picked her up. Yusuke asked what he did.

"I gave her a highly potent soporific." He answered with a smile. Urameshi was really worried. Akari was REALLY going to kill him when she'll wake up. The kitsune recalled the times when he used to decide against using such methods to quiet her. That was before they started dating. But now, he just knew she wouldn't kill him, because she loved him... and because he loved her, he was fine with risking his life over and over by incurring her wrath... because it was for her... and her wounds and energy depletion were more serious than she made it seem. She shouldn't exert herself more. He didn't want her to keep fighting until she simply shut down and collapsed. The fox gazed tenderly at his lover's peaceful sleeping face. From that serene beauty, you could never guess what swirling, boiling, explosive sentiments she held inside. "It's alright. I'll do something about her mood when she wakes up as usual." He replied confidently.

Genkai, Botan, Kaito, Yanagisawa, Shizuru, Mitarai, Amanuma, and most of all, Keiko, were anxiously waiting at the entrance of the Irima cave. It was just before dawn. And at last, the heroes, their friends, came out. Botan cheered. They were all here! Koenma, Kazuma who was carrying Hiei on his back, Kurama (who had regained his human appearance with red hair and green eyes) with Akari in his arms... and... who? Who was this person with those patterns on his body and long, long hair?

"Yusuke!" Keiko cried in relief and happiness as she ran to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Welcome back."

"Yo, I'm home." The boy said softly, tightly hugging her back. Those who had been waiting were shocked by this new appearance. Well, a lot had happened. He'd tell them later. Keiko let go and got worried about Akari. The fox reassured her. She was just sleeping. She should be up and kicking as soon as she smelled food... It was then the Special Defense squad came to them. Urameshi and the others instantly tensed up.

"Koenma-sama, the Spirit World will not forgive what you have done." Otake spoke. "Enma Daioh declared that Urameshi Yusuke was to be eliminated. You bear a heavy responsibility for defying that order and allowing him to be reborn as a mazoku."

"Yeah, I know. I will accept any punishment." Junior admitted gracefully. However, that didn't sit well with the said mazoku.

"Hey, you lot! I have no intention of picking a fight with anyone I know I can beat. However, I will take on all comers! And depending on how things develop, I'll crush them with my full might! Koenma did his best. You douche bags have no business saying anything about him! And just you try pulling anymore of your obnoxious little stunts around me! I'll fucking obliterate you!" He warned angrily. And he was so fierce and furious that he terrified the captain who broke in cold sweat. In any case, the squad's mission was to close the hole. There was no need for pointless fighting. The defense team returned inside to finish their work. "It's over, huh?" Urameshi pensively commented. They all turned to watch the sun rising over the city in the distance. "Alright! Time to go back!" He suddenly exclaimed, and they walked away. Kuwa felt like he had been fighting for a whole year. And Yusuke was pretty sure he had already heard that line before.

Not too far in the forest, sitting on fallen trunks facing each other, Kamiya and Hagiri were facing each other. The doctor had broken out of jail. The scenery could not be more peaceful... the flowing stream, the sunlight leaking through the leaves, the chirping birds, the light breeze rustling the grass... it was so quiet. Even the makai bugs had disappeared, let alone the demons. So Sensui lost. Kamiya pointed at the wound on the teen's chest and said it was incredible. He had treated and cut open hundreds of people and found himself admiring that cut without realizing. All the crucial muscles and organs were missed. Instead of being 'stabbed', it was more like he had been 'threaded through'. The Sniper recalled how that 'wound' had been inflicted by the youkai Hiei and smiled in self-derision. Just like the Doctor. When he had seen that cut, it had downed on him. Sensui was stronger than anyone, but even so, they could not beat the others. But that didn't matter to Kaname who had found it fun in its own way. As Minoru put it, in the end, dreams were something you woke up from. And both laughed good-heartedly. Then Kamiya prepared to leave. He would go into hiding. Hagiri... was just going to return to his usual life... eat, sleep, school.

"Fried shrimp." Akari said as she woke up once the tantalizing smell had started tickling her nostrils.

"Well guessed." Kurama complimented with a smile, sitting on the bed. They were in her room in his house. Why? She didn't recall getting here on her own. She was in the Makai. She wanted to fight Yusuke. And then... she suddenly pounced on him and pinned him on the floor, straddling him. She was ready to punch... and punch really hard... if he said anything that displeased her. He had to tread extra carefully if he didn't want to have it.

"Why did you do that?! We still had time! I wanted to fight! I wanted to stay!" She raged.

"I know. But there are also things... people that are important to you here, and that you would miss, right? Because you know their place is here... and so is ours. I know you want to return, you want to fight him and stronger opponents to your heart's content... and you want to become stronger yourself." He stared straight back at her, facing her head-on, without fear. Her golden glare that seemed to be burning like an intense, violent and uncontrollable wildfire... those who shirked from it were devored, he had long understood that, and that he would be the one to tame and consume it. After a time, he felt her anger abate slightly as she had been thinking. Her grandmother, Keiko, Kuwabara, Shizuru, Shiori-san... She loved them, and they couldn't live anywhere but here in the human world... and Kurama loved his family and his life here... and she loved him... He smiled as he saw a shadow of doubt in her eyes and continued. "But you can't just throw a tantrum and go wild. There are proper steps to take in order to obtain something. Given the ruckus we raised in the Makai, it wouldn't be surprising if there were some sort of movements..." He felt her body slacken as her temper subsided, allowing him to sit up. "And by obtaining so much power, you obtained a voice. You won't be ignored or left alone. What you wish for will definitely come. Until then, restrain your fighting spirit. You need to be patient, take advantage of this time to properly rest and recover. And don't ever forget, everything I do, I do it for your sake, because I love you, and you're the most precious to me. So won't you trust me?"

"Says the guy who abused his charms and drugged me..." The girl humphed and looked away sulkily, not fully sold. Kurama smiled sheepishly and stroked her cheek, turning her back to him and making her look into his green full of love. He slowly leant in. Their foreheads touched, then their noses, and their lips, and he kissed her. He nibbled her lips, licked them, and she gave in. The mesmerizing kiss grew much deeper, more passionate, more sensual as their tongues entwined and his hands reached inside her shirt and caressed the skin of her back and her hips. Her arms wrapped around his neck. Suddenly, he shifted and pinned her to the floor in a fluid and gentle movement. The young man grinned and Akari poutily turned away again. Not fazed, Kurama nibbled the lobe of her ear before trailing his lips and tongue down her neck while his hands very slowly moved up beneath her shirt. She bit her lower lip and closed her eyes.

"Shuichi! Is Akari-chan awake? Dinner is almost ready!" They stopped when they heard Shiori-san call them.

"Yes! We'll come in a minute!" Shuichi yelled back before gazing down at his lover. "I asked mother to make you a feast. That's another step in order to get back to your best condition. And I also need you to be healthy. We'll continue that later." He grinned again and planted a butterfly kiss on her lips. Her whole face started flushing in embarrassment as she recovered her usual self, like a spell had been lifted.

"Don't get ahead of yourself you shitty con fox!" She shouted and threw him out of her room and slammed the door. Her back and palms to the door, she was panting and her heart was thumping madly in her chest. That was so embarrassing! But then she held herself and slid down to a sitting position. She knew it wasn't only embarrassement... because just recalling the warmth, weigth, and scent of his body, the love and desire in his eyes, the sensation of his hands and lips on her... was enough to start melting her will to resist and spark something within her. What she didn't know was that although Kurama always acted so cool, self-composed, and 'in control'... he had been truly frantic and desperate during her time in Sensui's clutches. And if he had become even more demonstrative, possessive, and less patient, it was also to dispel that anxiety.

A week later, at school, Yusuke was lying on the grass, his arms behind his head, under the shadow of a tree. Kurama had cut his hair, and the patterns on his body were gone when he woke up. And he had returned to his normal life. Kuwabara joined him and berated him for cutting class again; he'd never get to be a good boilerman like this. If something was bothering him, he should come out and say it! But Urameshi just slightly turned away and kept quiet. His friend clicked his tongue and sat down next to him.

"Ah, I can't take it. Why is it that you can't enjoy calm peaceful days like this? It's already been a whole week that things have been peaceful. Oh, come to think of it, I've got a letter from Mitarai." Kazu pondered. The news about Mitarai got Yusuke just a little bit interested. Both Mitarai and Amanuma had returned to school. But Kuwabara was still worried they were going to cause more problems since it was because these two couldn't adapt to every day life that they had fallen for Sensui's enticements.

But there was no need to worry about Mitarai. He was taking his future into his own hands, and consulting a teacher about it. The student wanted to go to a distinguished high school but he was warned that passing the entrance exams would be difficult given his grades for the last half of the year. The child insisted. He was definitely going to make a comeback. The teacher wasn't that worried though. He had confidence that Mitarai could do it if he put his mind to it. He also noted the good expression his student had had on his face lately. Something good must have happened. Kiyoshi told him a lot had happened, and it had all taken a big load off him. And so, Mitarai Kiyoshi, age 14, type A, born February 10, currently living with his two parents and his sister, would be accepted into the school of his choice and pursue a career in national environmental volunteerism after attending college overseas.

About Amanuma, he was – as usual – playing games in an arcade, though this one was far from his school. He won again of course. His opponent was a classmate and his friends. They couldn't believe how good Amanuma was at games. They were surprised since they had believed all he did was study. They asked why he'd come in a game center so far from school. They were only here because they were back from a practice match with their soccer club. He replied there was no particular reason, but in fact, that was because he didn't want to see them... although he still went back with them. One of the soccer players invited himself to Amanuma's house. Tsukihito surprisingly agreed. His parents wouldn't be around until late at night anyway. The three expressed their jealousy. One was always being nagged because his parents ran their business from home... to the point he wished to just get rid of them once in a while. Amanuma wondered if he was kidding. Another said he seriously thought about it sometimes. The last one thought about it every day though. They lorded it over him just because they were the parents and were stubborn about telling him to study even though they were stupid. And when he got good grades, all they said was 'keep working harder', leading him to always think: 'you guys are the parents, so you work harder'. It was really tough being brought up. And they all laughed good-heartedly.

And Tsukihito finally understood that everyone was the same. Every child was at one point so sick of school and their family they wanted it all gone. And they changed as they grew up. He recalled about how Koenma had saved him and was truly glad to be still alive. He even invited his new friends to come over right now to play games. And they happily obliged. And like this, Amanuma Tsukihito, age 11, type AB, born November 7, living together with his parents in a household of three, attended later a private middle school and gradually expanded his circle of friends through games, and came to live as a normal student.

As the four children ran down the street, they passed a man with his hands in his pockets who stopped before the police station and stared at a wanted poster. He walked closer to take a good look at it. The wanted man was Kamiya Minoru. On the photo, his features, and notably his eyes looked especially sharp, cold, merciless, murderous. The man, young looking, of somewhat plain appearance and clothes, suddenly started laughing. A policeman asked if he knew anything about the person from the poster.

"No, I thought he looked like someone I know, but it's a coincidental resemblance. Just my imagination." The passerby replied and walked away, still laughing. Of course, the officer had no means to know that he was actually talking to the wanted man himself who had altered his appearance using his own ability. Kamiya Minoru, age 29, type AB, born August 20, would, like this, make his gateway before establishing the 'Miracle Hands Dojo' where, as a psychic surgeon, he would use his ability to treat many sick people.

Sitting cross-legged on the topmost part of the rooftop of Meiou High School, Akari was gazing at the sky with an empty expression. There was nothing to do... nothing that excited her. She had been behaving as Kurama told her but she was so bored she felt like her brain was melting at room temperature. It was stifling. How long was she going to have to wait until something happened? But just as she thought that, something did happen. An envoy from the Reikai arrived on her oar. Katsuyama recognized Ayame who ordered her to eliminate Urameshi Yusuke as she was the only one here who could rival his power. The human girl burst out laughing.

"Sorry but you're barking up the wrong tree. If one had to say, I belong more to the other side. That guy's a comrade in arms, a fighting pal, and a friend. Yes, I'd love to fight him as he's become a more than worthy opponent... but I'd never do something so incredibly wasteful as to kill such a fun guy… or allow others to kill him. Besides, I have no obligation to take orders from you, and only did so until now out of good will. But that's as far as it goes. In fact, I'm starting to dislike your methods... using people as much as you like and then killing them? If you keep giving such dirty jobs, I'll get angry, more like if you pull any more of those obnoxious little stunts around me, I'll fucking obliterate you." Akari intended to smile sweetly but her lips actually curved into a frighteningly feral grin. She didn't know but she was repeating almost word for word Urameshi's warning to the Special Defense squad captain. It didn't matter who, as long as she could go against an enormous power... that was all she wanted. And if she was picking a fight with the whole Spirit World and their hitmen came after her, then that too was fine. She also thought Kurama with his intelligence and poisons would be a smarter pick for a true assassination, but of course, she didn't pipe a word about that.

At a river bank, Kaname and his little sister were gazing at the corpse of a little cat in the grass. Its body was riddled with arrows. What a terrible thing to do. But she understood it a little. It was like when you're suddenly given a powerful weapon, it's natural to want to try it out. And if you're in a bad mood, you might want to use it to oppress the weak. She was someone who'd brake right away, because she'd think 'it must hurt', or 'I feel bad for them'. That was why she was a bit envious of those able to go on and do things like this, but in the same time, she despised them, because they forgot about all the living things being sacrificed so they could live. She touched the remains of the animal and activated her abilities. She could read the memories within it. Those memories were filled with intense fear. Three boys in their late teens had hunted and killed this poor thing. At a glance they looked like well-behaved honor students... then she touched her brother's forehead and let him see the memories. Kaname was disgusted by the expressions of those three 'model students'. But as she said, cowards became cruel if they banded together. He decided to hunt them down. They were actually his classmates. He already disliked them, but now he could no longer stand to look at them. And he walked away. Hagiri Kaname, age 17, type O, born December 3, lived with his mother, older brother and younger sister. He would disappear after graduating from high school... and send his mother 200 000 yens five years later.

Kaito, Yanagisawa and Kido were saying their goodbyes to Genkai. Akari, Yusuke and Kuwabara were there too. Kido apologized for having failed to be of any help at the critical moment. But the master assured that all three of them had been of tremendous service. It was thanks to them that Yusuke and the others had become motivated after all.

"Granny, how can you say that? I'm always taking things seriously." Urameshi replied, his arms crossed.

"Just WHEN did you ever take anything seriously?!" Kazuma angrily retorted, engaging his friend in a headlock.

"Kuwabara-kun, you can't expect an embodiment of irresponsibility, lazyness, and idiocy like him to have any self-awareness." Akari heavily sighed while shrugging and shaking her head in mock despair.

"Why you... you're the last person in every existing world I'd ever want to hear that from!" Urameshi shot back as indeed, although she was significantly smarter than him, she was just as irresponsible and lazy, if not more... and either she wasn't aware of it, or had conveniently forgotten that fact. He grabbed her wrist, pulled her to him, and started choking her just like Kuwabara was choking him.

"What?! How dare you lump me in with you?!" That signaled the start of a three-way brawl.

"Yanagisawa, Kido, Kaito, as best as you can, refrain from using the special abilities you have." Genkai strongly advised them, royally ignoring the usual antics of her granddaughter and her friends. "The more you use them, the more you separate yourself from normal people. Take care."

"Right. Thank you very much!" They bowed in unison. Despite having said that, Yanagisawa would once try to copy a really beautiful girl on whom he had a crush even though he knew just how low it would be of him... but he was unwittingly stopped by a cute tomboy (who didn't know about his abilities) that he would later marry. Kido, despite his sharp and scary appearance was actually so gentlemanly that he would refrain from asking his girlfriend why she would stand him up, and even find her excuses. And Kaito would become a writer and find his own girlfriend too with whom he would regularly play video games. All three would graduate and live perfectly normal lives.

Itsuki was still holding Sensui's corpse in the subspace. It was so quiet here. Itsuki knew that when Shinobu was Shinobu, he used to feel pain beyond imagination... but he would never show that suffering to anyone, not even to him, and that really frustrated him. But now, Shinobu could just go on sleeping like this, in peace, without a care in the world, and no one would come to bother them. And Itsuki tightly and gently squeezed his companion's body. Sensui Shinobu, former Reikai Tantei, age 26, type A, born June 6, and Itsuki, age, date of birth, and everything else unknown... Afterwards, nobody would ever know what became of them.

Sitting against a tree, Hiei was sulking. As he had always wanted to return to the Makai, he did not appreciate having been dragged back to the Ningenkai during his sleep. The video of the Black Chapter was in his hands. Kurama arrived and sat against the tree too.

"You're still sulking? Koenma said it was better to bring you back. Also, it could have been dangerous for you to stay over there in your state." The fox guessed the reason of his comrade's foul mood. Hiei responded with a disgruntled noise. "Is that the Black Chapter tape?"

"I've received orders to bring it back, but if you want that much to return to the Demon Realm, I'll do you a favor and allow you to use that tape to trade with the brass." Akari offered as she went to stand in between them. The fire demon snorted, tossed the tape, and cut it apart.

"It's worthless material." He said.

"Well, indeed, that wasn't something that should exist. This way it definitely won't fall into wrong hands anymore." The girl smiled. "Kurama-"

"I know, I'll handle the report." The kitsune interrupted her. If he left it to her, that report would only consist of 'Tape destroyed.' And she'd even be annoyed and snap at anyone who would dare say anything or require more details (which would be only natural). It had already happened. That was why Kurama was now in charge of reports.

Another week later, Kuwabara was running around the school, trying to find Urameshi. He only found Keiko though. He had forgotten that he had lent that guy his maths notebook, and now he needed it for his next class and he couldn't find that Urameshi. Keiko suggested trying the rooftop since he often went there to take naps when he skipped classes. Kuwabara headed there in a jiffy and called him but he didn't seem to be there either. Where the hell could that bastard have gone? So he decided to borrow Keiko-chan's textbook and returned inside. But Yusuke was on the rooftop... sitting on the overlooked topmost part, staring into the distance, spacing out... Ordinary life was so dull. Everyone went back to living normal students' lives, including him. But even though at that time he had declared right away so confidently that he didn't need time to think and they would return to the Human World, he wasn't so sure that was what he wanted after all. He could still feel his blood boiling when he'd recall Akari's aura and expression when she said she wanted to fight him... Maybe he should have gone along with her after all… And there was still the guy who took control of him! That wasn't his own fight! He couldn't accept it!

In class, Akari kept looking outside, and didn't even hear the teacher calling her. To make her pay attention, the professor walked up next to her and tried to lightly hit her with a book but she instinctively caught it. She looked at him in what she thought was a normal 'what-is-it?' way but it was a glare that truly scared the grown man, a look that could kill... Kurama intervened, said she wasn't feeling well and got permission for her to momentarily leave class. It wasn't too long before the end of class too. She left. Even though she was restraining herself, lately her bloodlust had started overflowing so much that she was growing harder and harder to approach and talk to, and the students had started avoiding her. Her expression, her aura... were causing more and more people to have goosebumps, their hair standing on ends and their heart rate to increase even if they just passed her by or met her eyes. And when she was in a particularly bad mood, it was exactly like seeing fish instinctively moving away from a shark swimming in the midst of their school.

Class ended, it was lunch break. Before Minamino-kun could go find his lover, he was stopped by the groupies in the class. They asked him why he was always with Akari, why did he choose her. She was violent, lazy, arrogant, mean, rude... Well, they knew his kind and helpful nature that made him look after even someone like her... but he didn't need to go that far! Surely, he was just with her because she kept pestering him to go out with her until he accepted, or she must have been threatening him in some way…

"No, well, it's true she has quite an attitude, and those times when she'd come over before her transfer she was really just messing around... but if I had to say it's more like I was the one who pestered her until she accepted. She's incredibly dense and slow when it comes to her own heart and it took me months just to get her to notice my feelings. Making her fall for me was literally bone-breaking. And even then, she initially rejected me. Back then she didn't want to have anything to do with love, and she didn't want to tie herself to anyone. You could say I only got her through an opening when she was very weak. But I believe I'm the only one for her, just like she's the only one for me. I finally have her. That's why I won't forgive anyone who means her harm or tries to ruin my efforts..." Even though he was smiling, there was something really scary about him, and they understood he was also talking about them and they better leave her alone if they didn't want anything bad to happen to them. But they still insisted... why? Why her?! "It's fine if you don't understand. It's fine if I'm the only one who knows of the treasures she hides from everyone." He once more openly displayed the sheer possessiveness of his love. There couldn't be any other woman. They couldn't say or do anything. He left them.

Meanwhile, Katsuyama was resting on the grass under the shade of a tree in a secluded place. The leaking sunlight and shadows cast by the leaves were gently playing on her face. But inside her, strife and turmoil, smoldering anger and frustration were swirling about like winds during a storm. It was those sentiments that caused her rising bloodthirst and made her unapproachable. Even though Sensui had been holding back so much, she had barely managed to land a few scratches... And compared to that, Yusuke was able to contain his full power, and his latent potential far surpassed that too... She was feeling so wretched, humiliated... in an instant, Yusuke had passed her by and gone on ahead, so far ahead... She bit her thumb, drawing blood. She couldn't stand it... She wanted to fight, she wanted to get stronger, stronger than him, much, much stronger... she wanted to burn until she completely blanked out but with this peace... she couldn't... not now... not here... Kurama came to fetch her and noticed her state. She followed him obediently, but something had to be done about her...

The next day, Iwamoto was doing the roll call and Urameshi was absent again. But even though Keiko told the teacher she wasn't Yusuke's baby-sitter, she was still worried about him after all. And Kuwabara was annoyed that this guy could never sit still. Actually, the former detective was at a café with his former boss. Koenma, in his teenage form, was watching Yusuke gazing out the window with an expression of listless discontent and asked him what was wrong.

"No, nothing... say, your punishment hasn't been lifted yet?"

"Well, I did defy my old man pretty badly. I can't just go strolling back to the Reikai. I plan to stay here in this world for awhile. Botan managed to tell me on the sly that Pop has scattered the Spirit Guides that used to work under me all over the place. This is my Pop we're talking about, I'm sure he has something in mind. Don't let your guard down, Yusuke. I suspect he hasn't withdrawn his order to eliminate you yet. Once the Great King Enma gives an order, it cannot be overturned that easily.I don't have to say more for you to understand, right?" Junior warned his friend.

"Assassins from the Spirit World? Sounds interesting. And here I was just getting bored."

"You still haven't learned your lesson after your life-and-death battle with Sensui?"

"I... I wasn't the one who finished that fight!" Yusuke balled his fists with a look of intense anger and frustration. "That bastard that overtook me just did as he pleased."

"Geez, both you and Akari..." The prince sighed two had a taste of something in that last battle. And clearly, it hadn't been enough. They were like beasts, behaving in their cage, but still hungering for the wild, for something into which they could fully sink their fangs that were growing too big and too sharp for their current environement. "Do you regret coming back?"

"There's just something missing, that's all. It's like begging for something that you can't have." Yusuke replied. In this world, the only one with whom he could still have a decent fight with was Akari, but they could not afford to battle at full power here. But had they remained in the Demon World, he would have missed the peace of the Human World as well as his mother, Keiko, and everyone. And Akari too... she might speak and behave like this but she'd miss Genkai and the others too, Kurama might have stayed with her because he loved her but he also had a family he cared about, and separating him from them would have hurt her. And Kurama also knew she'd miss the people and comfort here. That was why, no matter where they were, there would be something missing. And still, he couldn't shake off his sense of 'unfinished business' that kept haunting him. Koenma advised him to talk to Genkai. Knowing her, she should be able to help him find some answers. And despite saying he doubted it... he still went to see her.